Danny Grant played his youth hockey in his native Fredericton, but as he moved up the ranks, he noticed that Eastern Canada was isolated from the hotbeds of pro hockey and thus lacked the intense competition necessary to push his game to higher levels. As a result, he went to Ontario to play four years of Junior A with the Peterborough Petes of the OHA from 1962 to 1966.

The following year he turned pro with the Montreal Canadiens, but failed to squeeze his way into their talented lineup on a permanent basis. In 1968, the Habs traded Grant to the Minnesota North Stars. The move launched his career in a big way. By the end of his first full NHL campaign, he set rookie scoring records of the day with 34 goals and 64 points. He was rewarded with the Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie.

From there, Grant just kept moving up. In the first phase of his career, he proved to be very durable. He managed to run up a string of 566 straight games played. And although he was not a swift skater, he was strong on his blades. He was also characterized as a tough winger who was clever, worked hard and packed a swift, accurate wrist shot.

He used these attributes to remain as a steady scorer throughout his six campaigns in Minnesota. But before the start of year seven, the Stars' management wanted a shakeup of the club's roster. By the time the ice chips settled, Grant was a Detroit Red Wing skating alongside Marcel Dionne. The two players complemented each brilliantly. By the end of the 1974-75 season, Grant had potted 50 goals.

His output marked the top of his career?a height from which he rapidly tumbled. By the following season, he was struck with the first of a series of serious leg injuries. His ice time and productivity fell way off. By early 1978, the Wings were hardly using the winger any more. As a response, he requested a trade to the L.A. Kings where he rejoined Marcel Dionne on a line with rookie Dave Taylor. But the gig was short-lived. Grant's knees continued to take a battering that forced his retirement in 1979.

Courtesy of the Hockey Hall of Fame